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After two nearly identical plays, Chen Fangjie felt exhausted and sowhat bored.
On the other hand, Wang i seed to enjoy it, becoming even more energized, evidently fond of these days, proving to be quite a talent.
Wang Shouzhe never expected that this seemingly average household general, Wang i, would start coveting his body at any chance.
The matter was settled here.
Overall, Wang Shouzhe was quite satisfied with the completion of the second phase of the task. Not only did he sell forty thousand bushels of Chen grain at a high price, but he also planted a deadly seed in the hearts of Liu Yongzhou and Zhao Dingtian, serving the third plan to unfold later.
Then, according to the original plan, the East Port Chen Family deployed two large rchant ships, deliberately removing the markings. The Wang Family also transported the grain to Fenggu Farm in advance, utilizing a lot of manpower to transfer the grain onto the large rchant ships overnight.
Although this transshipnt back and forth seed like a waste of manpower and resources, in such special tis, an extra bit of caution translates to extra safety.
The most crucial aspect for a Black Tortoise Clan that can be inherited for generations is not windfall profits, but one word.
Stability!
Achieving stability is extrely difficult, but ultimately, it boils down to two major directions: the ability to avoid risks and the ability to withstand risks.
If the Wang Family were not currently beset by internal and external troubles, Wang Shouzhe would really not want to clash with the Liu Family and Zhao Family so quickly. He would prefer to manage the big picture, lay long-term plans, and eventually crush them with a grand montum.
However, given the current situation, he can only find a way to achieve the optimal solution.
Ti passed day by day.
One day.
As usual, Wang Shouzhe was cultivating, and when he went to the Martial Arts Arena at 5:00 AM, there was an uncontrollable brilliance in his eyes, and his aura had beco sharper.
"Patriarch, have you broken through?" The servant Wang Gui felt the powerful aura and exclaid with joy.
"Just broke through to the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm." Wang Shouzhe, while calm, couldn’t help but feel a bit of joy. So ti ago, he had already reached the peak of the sixth layer, and after so ti of consolidation, he felt sothing last night and directly ingested a [Peiyuan Pill], clenching a Spirit Stone to sprint.
Due to deep accumulation, coupled with resources and luck, he succeeded in one go.
From today onwards, he, Wang Shouzhe, is now in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
Eighteen years old, seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm!
Looking at the entire Changning Guard, it was a very comndable achievent. Thinking back, Ancestor Longyan also achieved this accomplishnt at eighteen, only slightly earlier by half a year.
Having just broken through, both the quality and quantity of the Profound Qi, as well as the physical quality, had a significant improvent.
In the days to co, he needed to cultivate well and stabilize and familiarize himself with the new power level as soon as possible. However, reaching the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm would not be a trivial endeavor, nor sothing achievable in a short ti.
In the martial arts arena, Wang Shouzhe practiced the Black Tortoise Combat Technique, body technique, swordsmanship, and String Control. He could clearly feel that he had beco significantly stronger than before, perhaps not capable of fighting two of his previous self, yet he felt he could manage against two ordinary sixth-layer Qi Refining Realm practitioners. Assuming they were ordinary...
After training until the sun was quite scorching, with his muscles and bones aching all over, Wang Shouzhe finally went back to take a bath.
Afterwards, he brewed a small pot of Shanyang Small Spirit Species in the side hall, calming his mind, and began handling so miscellaneous affairs.
"Patriarch, these are intelligence reports regarding the Liu Family and Zhao Family in recent days." Wang Gui presented so letters and intelligence.
As Wang Shouzhe went through the intelligence, his brows gradually furrowed. By the end, he slamd his hand on the table with a loud "bang," his eyes icy cold: "The Jackal Wolf Race is indeed the Jackal Wolf Race; even when donning human skin, they can’t hide their innate greed and cruelty."
Though Wang Shouzhe had anticipated that once the Liu Family and Zhao Family began implenting a rger strategy, their thods would likely not be gentle. However, he hadn’t expected their tactics to be so cruel and greedy.
Take the Liu Family, for instance. Under their influence, there are about two thousand or so families, with a total of three to four million mu of good farmland. During this locust plague, these self-sufficient farrs were hit very hard, and so poorly managed households had empty grain reserves after paying their taxes.
However, among these farrs, there were quite a few middle-class farrs and even wealthy farrs.
With substantial family assets, they habitually hoarded so grain. Therefore, overall, although the self-sufficient farrs in the area still faced grain shortages, by borrowing from each other and enduring the hardships, they could barely get through the disaster year.
But once the Liu Family intervened, they first targeted the heads of so grain-hoarding middle-class farrs. Because they dared to privately lend grain to others and even dared to set up contracts for repaynt of twice the borrowed grain after the autumn harvest.
In the end, that group of middle-class farrs had to sacrifice part of their land to gain the "understanding" of the Liu Family.
That was not all; so wealthy households, seeing their fellow villagers suffering, voluntarily assisted relatives in need without charging any interest.
This undoubtedly touched on the fundantal interests of the Liu Family. They secretly recruited so rogue cultivators and scoundrels to cause havoc at the hos of wealthy families doing charity, demanding "relief," forcing those wealthy individuals to retreat and protect themselves.
There was also a particularly stubborn wealthy family that continued to secretly help others. As a result, a group of rogue cultivators took advantage of the night to sneak in, and the entire household, all ten-plus people, t a tragic end.
The Liu Family has only one goal: to make those families with depleted resources mortgage their land to exchange for their old grain. Intelligence shows that, so far, not many small landowners have taken this step.
However, as ti goes by, the artificially-induced "famine" becos increasingly severe. Eventually, so can’t hold out any longer and will trade their land for those "skyrocketing" old grains.
Amid this insect disaster, to prevent the consequences of large numbers of refugees, regions are typically locked down, making it difficult for civilians to roam. This has conveniently facilitated the Liu Family’s plans.
The Liu Family doesn’t want "much," just aiming to annex one-tenth of the land in their jurisdiction. If done with ruthlessness, they will surely succeed in two months.
Of course, as a noble family, the Liu Family will not violate Daqian Law on the surface.
They will engage in trades like "Tantai Heyu" with the Liu Family, under the guise of Qian Gold mortgage lending, ensuring no cris appear on paper.
This is what they call finding ways around policies. Noble families in rural areas, in particular, appear like local emperors to commoners. Once they disregard sha, they can truly do as they please.
At this mont, Wang Shouzhe felt a pang of regret for selling the old grain to the Liu and Zhao Families.
However, the thought quickly disappeared, knowing that even if he hadn’t acted, the Liu and Zhao Families would acquire grain from elsewhere and execute the sa plan. Instead, he would just be funding their unscrupulous friends, further losing control of the situation.
"The people’s grievances have risen. Notify Wang Zhong to cast the net and start the ambush plan. Also, find out the whereabouts of the group of rogue cultivators responsible for the massacre," Wang Shouzhe ordered with a grim expression and sent the secret order through his household generals.
While prolonging the situation would accumulate more public resentnt, striking at the height of such resentnt would benefit Wang Family’s future plans more. At the sa ti, though, it might cause more tragedies for common families.
After finishing this matter, he drank a few cups of Yangshan Small Spirit Species to calm his emotions.
"Patriarch, do not forget that today the second young master of the Liua Family will visit," Wang Gui reminded carefully, observing the situation.
The Liua Family’s second young master?
With this reminder, Wang Shouzhe recalled the letter he received a few days ago from the Liua Family, stating that their Clan Leader’s second legitimate son, Liua Yuanrui, was expected to arrive at Dingpu Ferry at noon today for a visit.
Wang Shouzhe and the Liua family’s Miss Liua, Liua Ruolan, were already engaged. As per custom, the Wang Family needed to send soone of corresponding status to greet him. This reception task typically fell to the clan leader’s legitimate son.
However, Wang Shouzhe had not yet married, and since Liua Yuanrui was his future brother-in-law, he had to go to greet him personally.
He prepared the carriage, so fruit, and summoned two household generals.
The group set off toward Dingpu Ferry, and the carriage passed by the outskirts of Zhuwei Lake.
At this ti, the Zhuwei Lakefront had transford. Over a hundred young and strong tenant farrs from the Wang Family were dispatched here to clear the reeds on the outskirts of Zhuwei Lake, level the land, and build greenhouses.
Leading this project was the third in the Shou Generation—Wang Shounuo. The sun-tanned, tall, and robust young man was initially organizing the young and strong to unload so timber and stone materials. Upon seeing Wang Shouzhe’s carriage, he greeted him from afar and continued to work.
The construction of these sheds and such was to serve the next phase of the plan. Seeing the third was busy, they naturally did not disturb him.
The carriage continued to sway and proceeded all the way to Dingpu Ferry.
At this ferry, the Wang Family also had so storefronts and ferry businesses. However, they were mostly managed by the Wang Family’s branch, consisting of hard labor with little profit.
Wang Shouzhe went straight to the deepwater pier and waited less than a quarter of an hour when he saw a ferryboat approach. Once docked, Liua Yuanrui’s group disembarked first without hesitation.
From a distance, Wang Shouzhe approached with a smiling face: "Yuan Rui, your grand arrival is an honor to us. I apologize for not welcoming you sooner; forgive my rudeness."
Liua Yuanrui, not yet sixteen this year, had a youthful face, but dressed in a vibrant and well-dressed manner, he exuded the charm of a heroic young man.
He also smiled, ca forward in quick steps, and reciprocated the courtesy: "Yuan Rui greets Brother Shouzhe. I must apologize for my impulsive visit and ask for Brother Shouzhe’s understanding." His deanor was elegant and made others feel comfortable, like being enveloped in the warmth of spring.
The noble family descendants, especially those of direct lineage, received elite education from a young age. Their conduct and etiquette were strictly enforced. While rowdy, vengeful, and provocative family mbers were not unheard of, they were very rare. At least in public, they would display elegance and good upbringing.
As the two exchanged pleasantries,
a lively girl’s voice ca from behind Liua Yuanrui: "Brother-in-law, you’re even more handso than I imagined."
Brother-in-law?
...
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